Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Well now that was fun. With my show ending at 9 pm, I was hesitant to get in the car and make the drive to Lexington just to see the second half. But something told me this would be a big night for the Cats, and it most certainly was. While I missed most of the sluggishness of the first half, what I saw in the second half was a team with unparallelled defensive intensity who, as Bruce Pearl said in the postgame “was the more passionate team.” Ramel Bradley stepped up as never before, playing defense on Chris Lofton that was the best we have seen from a UK player during Lofton’s illustrious career. The Big Orange went almost 14 minutes in the second half with just two field goals….an astounding achievement for Kentucky’s defense, considering the Orange firepower. The Wildcats took Tennessee out of their rhythm and then did enough on offense to pull out the game.
In my view, two plays truly stick out. The first was the defensive stand the Cats did while up two with 1:40 to play. Bradley continued his face guarding of Lofton and the Vols could not get the shots they had hoped on such a crucial play. The ball was left in the hands of Tyler Smith, who took a contested three pointer (with Stevenson on him) that could not have been one of the Vols’ best options. The long rebound came to Ramel Bradley, who crashed the boards and then immediately drew a foul with his aggressive/physical style of drawing contact. Bruce Pearl pointed to this possession at the end of the game, suggesting that by drawing that foul, Kentucky was able to up the lead from 2 to 4 at a critical time in the game and take control of the contest. The great defense and rebounding effort of that play symbolized the Cats’ entire second half and was a reason for the victory.
The second play however was one that I noticed, but that Coach Gillispie raved about in the post-game press conference. With just 15 seconds to go and the Cats up 8, a rebound came off a Tennessee miss and Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks both dove on the floor to get the ball. Coach Clyde pointed out this play after the game, noting that both young men had been injured and players with lesser character may have just assumed the game was over. Seeing these guys dive on the floor caused him to clap and smile on the sidelines and in the postgame he said it was “the most proud” he had been of the team all season. For this coach, effort is key and no play more symbolized the Cats’ effort tonight.
Ultimately, this game was simply fun. Rupp was raucous and people were dancing all over the building. The press room was filled with people once again and those with Kentucky ties all had large smiles on their face. The magic was there, in part, because the Cats looked like a team who could play with the elite Vols. Gillispie was almost giddy (at least as giddy as he can be) in the post-game and noted how proud he was of the team. As a fan, that emotion should also ring true…..16 straight free throw made to end the game and the Cats take down one of the 6 or 7 best teams in the country….the loss to San Diego seems a long time ago indeed.
Some notes….
RAMEL DISRESPECT: Ramel Bradley said there was some added motivation in the game based on the attitudes of the nouveau riche players from Knoxville. “We were focused and intense before the game and then during the pregame shootaround, when you see guys still got their earrings in like they arent taking it seriously, well I thought they were being disrespectful.” Bradley said that he didnt believe the Vol players were taking the game seriously and he wanted to show them that Kentucky was still Kentucky. When I asked him if he took that attitude and jawed a bit with the players on the court, he said, “thats always there with those guys. But at the end of the game I could tell they were tight.” I asked if he was tight and he smiled and said, “Nah, I got ice water in my veins.” Gotta love Smooth…..
GILLISPIE COMMENTS: Here are a few comments from the Coach:
– Coach praised Joe Crawford for recognizing that his injury made him too hurt to go and taking himself out. “The way we won was perfect because Joe was in pain and we still stepped up.” He said that taking oneself out in such a situation shows a true team player and illustrates that “Joe is becoming a great leader.”
– Gillispie was thrilled with the crowd in Rupp. “Tonight we had the best 6th man in the history of college basketball.” He said that he thought the crowd was great against Vandy but that he said with a sly smile that he wanted “much better effort” tonight and he got it.
– Gillispie believed that “the story of the game was our defense in the paint.” He thought that while stopping Tennessee’s three point shooters was important, they simply couldnt allow the Vols to get easy buckets down low. Stopping these baskets was what he believed the crucial difference was in the second half.
– Gillispie once again praised Patrick Patterson for a great effort, calling him “an unbelievable player.” He also joked that he sat Patrick for 30 seconds, which was “the most he has rested in a conference game. He should be rested now for Saturday.”
PEARL AND THE REFS: While being very careful in his comments, the insinuation from Coach Pearl was that he was unhappy with some officiating late. He made a point to note that often Tennessee had to earn points after Kentucky just made a couple of free throws. He also insinuated that the foul that Ramel drew with the Cats up two was bogus and a difference maker. While he made no direct comments that could lead to a fine, you could tell he was not happy. Having said that, he once again praised Rupp Arena and the Kentucky fans saying, “when you come here, you owe it to the place to give maximum effort.”
FAMILY Of the four players who came out after the game, three used the word “family” to describe the team at this point. Patrick Patterson said, “this season is all about coming together as family. We are doing it every day by being more passionate and intense. That is what is making us closer.”
All in all, a great win and a great night for Kentucky basketball. Tomorrow, we will have a video post-game cast I did with some reporters for the UK television station (a new feature) and more on the game and where the Cats stand. For now, celebrate….
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January 23rd, 2008 at 2:33 am
Go Cats The Roses Smell Like…. for the vols ha ha ha
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:41 am
Thanks Matt hope you liked it. Great win last night. 10x better than the Vandy win IMHO
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 am
God, I was there. Best game in Rupp I have ever witnessed. Crowd was blowing the roof off!!!! Go Big Blue…y’all must have forgot!
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 am
Matt, you chose wisely in driving in for the game!!! I’ve been to several….this is in the Top 10 as far as importance. I would still like to see the “other half” (bottom half of lower arena) get into the game as much as the rest, but, definitely one of the better contests!! Great intensity!
I don’t think Pearl has a leg to stand on when it comes to the officiating. One blatant example is the flagrant called when Jasper obviously was going for (and got alot of, by the way) the ball. Personally, I think the officiating is getting worse as the year goes on……Discuss……..
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:51 am
Sorry…the foul should have been noted as “Intentional”…not, flagrant….
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 am
#4 agreed about the flagrant I think they called it because Jasper had his left hand up by the middle of the kids back and was hacking for the ball with his right, the ref had a clear view of that left hand though.
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 am
intentional sorry too LOL
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 am
Fantastic game. Rupp was electric tonight and the crowd definitely influenced the outcome of the game. Thrilled to see Perry Stevenson play so well! Watch out SEC– the Cats are back!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:06 am
Great win for the cats and am so happy for ramel and joe!!
4- I agree with you that the refs have gotten worse as the year goes on. One thing that I have really noticed is how many charges are being called. Players are flopping so much these days it’s ridiculous. Referees can not continue to call charges when guys just jump backwards onto their butts. If you noticed lat in the game when Meeks drove the lane and made a close floater, he knew he would be able to just shoot it in because Chism was standing right there just wanting to take a charge and not play defense and contest the shot. Maybe flopping is just a pet peave of mine but I really think it is beginning to ruin the game with all of the flops called as charges.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:09 am
I agree the foul “looked” like it may be intentional. However, the only intentional aspect of that foul was Jasper going after the ball. Which, by the way, from every replay I’ve seen, he actually had ALOT more ball than human…….Sorry, EXTREMELY bad call…
But, I would bitch so much more if the Cats lost…but, they DIDN’T!!!!! Here’s to the Cats going 11-5 in the SEC and taking the Tourney!!!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 am
I live in WV and usually only make it down for a game a year, but that was by far the greatest atmosphere I have ever been a part of in any sporting event. The CATS just gave me a the best birthday present I could have asked for. The 2 1/2 hour drive home in the middle of the night did not even phase me, just getting home and still to fired up to sleep. Anyone else at the game realize how hard Paterson works every possession. I saw him play a lot of ball in high school, but he was on such a different level and you can’t always see him working on tv. There were a few possessions when the ball was still at the other foul line and he was already posting up and working his man down low. I think this proves the NCAA tourny is not out of the picture because this team has the ability to beat any team in this conference and might just make a magical run through CATlanta for a title.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:14 am
9.
Agreed with the Flops. Bradley missed a chippie because he thought the guy would foul him….however, he FLOPPED a full half-step before he even got to him……Bradley expected contact, adjusted, missed the shot. Still hit the free throws, but, could’ve been 2 + 1……Refs are terrible this year in the SEC. I would like to see the resumes. I’ve never even seen some of these guys! They must have been promoted from the JUCO ranks……
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 am
I saw the intentional foul more as Jasper trying to protect the guy he was fouling. He went for the ball and grabbed a little shirt to keep from sending him hard to the floor. I have seen a lot more fouls that were more deserving but you never really know what angle the refs see. Oh well a win is a win and it is a point that does not need discussed because of the final outcome.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 am
# 11, wasn’t that shit awesome!!!! Agree on PPat. He is on “God-Watch” status if he sticks around. Thanks for coming…just unreal.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:26 am
Yeah I am from the Huntington area and I don’t know the family personally, but know some people who do. From everything I hear I just see no way he bails before he gets a degree, but you never know what is going through these guys minds when the dollar signs are presented in front of them. I would almost guarantee we have him for 3 years though. I think he realizes that Billy Clyde could really do something special building a team around him, and I really believe if he stays 4 years he is a definite top 3 draft pick.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:30 am
This is how we as UK fans live.
If the Intentional foul was a “non-issue” as it turned out to be, then we are happy. However, if we lost by two or three, we would be screaming about the Refs.
Hey, I loved the game tonight….the guys played through a ton of bad and ‘in our favor’ calls. To their credit, these 07-08 Cats are gaining confidence and and respect. Not only that, but, they are believing they can beat the best teams in the country.
Mark my words….we are a dangerous bunch to contend with when we are healthy!!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 am
I agree completely we are going to be a dangerous bunch come tourny time and an at-large bid is not out of the realm of possibility with an 11-5 conference record and a few wins in Atlanta. I say lets just win the SEC and send Joe and Ramel out in style. Wonder what knocking off the #1 in the RPI will do for us?
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 am
I am so happy I finally got to watch these guys win. First time this year. Great effort. Just awesome.
This team could be pretty special in a lot of Big Blue hearts when it is all said and done.
I liked that play where Bradley was taking it up with 2-on-one and kept it, drawing the foul. For once his selfishness was the prudent thing to do, IMO. That’s when I really thought UK would win. That stood out, as well as the close-up on Gillispie asking for an intentional foul right after we got our intentional, all with a big smile on his face. Loved it.
Just weighing in so that people can’t say all we do on this site is whine after losses.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:06 am
I’m way down, below all the shit.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:21 am
It’s starting to get fun again!
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 am
Matt, you got it right, it was just a FUN game! I get to go to one game, a season, usually. I’m so glad this was the one! The guys really showed heart and hustle. Patterson is a madman, working to get open and get position, down low. You don’t notice that on TV.
I’m glad Lofton reached the record, there in Rupp.
The crowd was great.
If anyone’s interested, here’s my post about it.
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 am
Good to see even more improvement
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:06 am
#20 I agree……….. got me a big smile this morning
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 am
I have been very critical of Bradley and Crawford thelast couple of years but there is no doubt they both just played their best four game stretch of their careers. I think they have been reached!! Gillispie has taken a lot of criticism this year but you are beginning to see the method to his madness. He knows what he does works and he wasn’t going to bend for anyone. This team is still going to struggle at timesd this year but we are 2 and 2 in the SEC with road losses at two of the better teams so we may have some more fun before the year is over.
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 am
What a great morning, hopefully about 9 or 10 more of these type of morning to follow the rest of the SEC season and I would be ecstatic. Nothing like sipping some fresh coffee and reading about a win instead of trying to avoid any website that may carry any story about a loss by the cats.
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 am
It’s 14 degrees outside, I stayed up way too late last night, I drove through black ice to get to a thankless job this morning, yet, I can’t stop smiling.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 am
I have always found that the less talented the Cats are, the worse the officiating is. Meaning, this year unfortunately every call seems to be crucial. When we are our normally dominating team we simply don’t care as much when the ref blows a call, sometimes not even noticing. But this year more than any year in recent memory it seems that every call can be make or break for this team.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 am
WHERE IS GOODCHANGE TODAY??
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 am
COME ON MATT!!! Perry Stevenson was a beast today! Give the kid his due!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 am
I think Coach was smitten with Jeannine Edwards.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 am
I’m still smiling this morning! I could hardly sleep last night after that big W! I’m not sure what BCG did to those boys after the New Year, but he should bottle it and try it before next season begins! It’s like two completely different teams. Huge props to Perry Stevenson. I still don’t like to see them pass it to him when trying to break the press, but man has they kid played well the past few games!
Funny you mention the end when Jodie and Derrick both dove for the ball. All of us at Grevey’s watching the game yelled, “NO!” We just knew they’d both come up injured. But that’s the way you play when you’re competitors like those boys. Awesome game, just awesome I tell ya!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 am
I made a comment several posts ago about seeing how this coaching staff develops players during the summer or whatever. I gotta tell ya I fully believe we are seeing development during the season. Perry Stevenson did somethings last night that made me get up out of my seat. I once said Perry wasn’t an offensive threat and he is still a long way off from being a huge one but tonight that young man made some BIG steps towards his development. Tonight was just………….just……… AWESOME. I can only imagine how they will develop over the summer. Congrats fellas and lets get to work on South Carolina. I not going to count anyone out in the SEC but maybe, just maybe if we are up on South Carolina a great deal we will get to see AJ and Morakinyo come out and see how they have developed……..
A.C. was right, Coach G and his Coaching staff will make you a better player….
GO CATS!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Great win by the Cats. Effort was huge, but going 24-28 from the free throw line is why we won.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
The improvement of Stevenson is mind boggling. Going from GOD AWFUL under Tubby to being a VERY servicable and physical player under BCG. The guy is bringing out the best in these guys.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
What’s the word with the hOpson interview from last night?
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:45 am
WOW, That game was awesome! Will will win a lot more games if that 4th or 5th person keeps stepping up like Perry S did last night. I thought that Jasper also did a great job of inbounding the ball all night. Good job cats! Keep up the hard work.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 am
I think BCG needs to start Stephenson instead of Coury. PPat needs to play the 4 spot.
Overall it was a great game as others have said.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:22 am
Big Win Cats!! Keep it up!
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:26 am
For all of you who have hated on BCG this season, just remember he has done something during this up and down year that OTS couldn’t do the past 2 years. He has beaten 2 top 10 teams.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:26 am
Marv Albert says….”YESSS!!!”
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
What about that inbounds play
Billy called towards the end
of the game? It sure wiped the
smirk off the jews face.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
As an aside, nice article from Pat Forde. Look at the bottom to see my hometown of Owensboro, KY get a mention. Makes me want
to go back home and make a contribution to the bartender! http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=32 07618&sportCat=ncb
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:43 am
Maybe Pearl should discuss that INT foul on Jasper. That was a crock. UT was hand checking all night too. Some bad calls on both sides. No doubt UT will the benefit when UK travels to Knoxville March 2nd.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 am
I’ve looked at our remaining schedule and again I would never count anyone out in the SEC but it is very possible, not probable, but possible to win the next 11 of 12 games. Vandy will be tough at their house, and Andy Kennedy will have his troops ready when they come to Rupp, but they will be in Rupp. You can bet UT will be ready when we go to Knoxville and that will be a battle and FL has to come to Rupp. They (FL) will be better but again they have to come to Rupp. With Jasper and Meeks now back to practicing with the team and getting better I don’t feel like winning the next 11 of 12 games is a far fetched goal (if everyone stays healthy). You could tell that both Meeks and Jasper were rusty and winded early but you couldn’t ask for a better effort having sat out 9 and 11 games respectively. Not to mention Perry is growing up right before our eyes, Harris is due a growth spurt and who knows maybe AJ will mature during this 12 game stretch with Meeks and Jasper back to help him along with the others in practice.
Basketball is starting to get exciting once again and with the buzz with football, baseball, and yes Cheerleading going on, it is GREAT to be fan of the U of K..
GO CATS!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
One more thing, we can’t get above ourselves. We have to play smart and hard for 40, we can’t let up.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 am
I still have goosebumps from being in Rupp last night…Amazing!
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 am
#30 is dead-on. It took everything BCG had to keep from saying, “I just want to kiss you” a-la Broadway Joe.
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Bubble team???
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:01 am
just watched the game for the second time and it was wonderful again!
any word on Crawford’s ankle? Is he okay?
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
most amazing stat for me…
Bradley and Patterson averaging 43 minutes a game in 4 SEC games! Averaging 43 minutes when there only 40 minutes in regulation is incredible. Makes me nervous for the possible 4 games in 4 days SEC tourney so how about we win them all between now and then so we dont have to play on day 1!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 am
49) It’s his foot actually, and apparently he’s day to day. I’d be surprised if he practices before Friday though.
Anyone else get excited when they think about seeing that kind of basketball, with that kind of effort, in Rupp for YEARS TO COME??
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 am
GREAT EFFORT LAST NIGHT! OUR COACH IS A WINNER-JUST GIVE HIM AND THESE CATS A LITTLE TIME. IF I WERE THE REST OF THE TEAMS IN THE SEC I WOULD ENJOY THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CATS ARE GOING TO BE GREAT IN A YEAR OR TWO. THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD WHEN THEY PLAY G-BALL NOW!
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Anything on the hopson interview?
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I guess I’m still surprised that we’re leading the SEC in free throw percentage. Those were big time down the stretch–that’s the type of thing this team is going to need, to make all those in crunch time. I’m just not used to seeing it.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Man, some great posts on here, lots of dead on stuff. Now it’s obvious that we can compete and win in the SEC. Now we got to have some consistancy, got to win several in a row. Not much room for error if we have any hope of the post season. Poor Coury, we got to get around him, Don’t mean to beat a dead horse, but man is he bad. BUT Billy Clyde didn’t start him in the 2nd half. I’m not trying to coach the team, I like the one we have, but we got to get away from starting. It just puts us in the hole from jump street. He has the slowest feet on the planet. Players go around him like he is a fire hydrant. Go CATS!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
If the Vols are looking for the license plate number of that truck that just hit them, it reads ‘P-E-R-R-Y S-T-E-V-E-N-S-O-N’
Who saw that one coming?
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Great intensity last night, but its easy to get up for a game against the Vols in Rupp on ESPN. I want the cats to bring that kind of intensity when they play at USC, or at UGA. That passion needs to be there every night for this team to make a run heading in to the final stretch of the season!
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I want IU again!
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I loved the student section holding up triangle hands when Ra- Smoove was shooting free throws.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Although Bradley played great D on Lofton, it wasn’t our best against Lofton. When we played at Tenn 2 years ago - and won, he was held to 17 points on a great defensive effort by - - Patrick Sparks!!! And that was after Tenn had won at Rupp and Lofton lit up Rondo for 31 points.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Correction - Patrick held him to 15 points!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
[...] they’ve turned the corner and are calling themselves a family. And Gillispie has done what Tubby Smith couldn’t with twice the talent the last two years: [...]
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I thought Duke Crews was going to be kicked off the team a few months ago for getting caught with marijuana. I must have received bad information. I hope I am not precipitating a rumor. Does anyone know what really happened?